No parent likes to see their baby suffering from diaper rash, but many babies do suffer the itch and burn at some point in time. When it occurs, parents and caretakers want to soothe and treat the rash and make their baby feel better than before as soon as possible. The first thing you need to look out is to identify what kind of diaper rash it is. This article throws light in identifying the three types of diaper rash, the possible causes of growth and the ways to cure.
Types of Diaper Rash
There are three kinds of diaper rash: contact rash, ammonia burn, and candida yeast rash. Let’s find out the details of each:
1. Contact Diaper Rash
Contact diaper rash may emerge in the area around the waist, the legs, or on the bottom. It may appear like hives, welts or tiny red bumps like heat rash. This type of rash is mainly caused by one of two reasons: material allergies or chafing. If it emerges in the waist and leg area, chafing is the main culprit. If it is proliferated across the buttocks, suspect a material allergy.
Chafing can be increased by getting a better fitting diaper, specifically if the baby has chubby thighs. If a material allergy, it’s usually to synthetics, so you may have to prefer to purchase diapers that are composed of natural fibers or that have all natural liners.
2. Ammonia Burn
This type rash is flat and looks identical to a carpet burn. Broadly, found on the bottom cheeks, it often appears like a red, round splotch, differing in size. It is usually sensitive to touch. Baby’s outer genitalia may emerge bright red as well.
This form of diaper rash often gets resulted from either moisture sensitivity or detergent buildup. Naturally, the detergent buildup is only a problem in cloth diapers and can often be alleviated by using an all-natural cloth diaper friendly detergent. Moisture sensitivity diaper rash means your baby is super sensitive to moistness against its skin and you may need to change the diaper more frequently. Use barrier creams to keep the moisture away from irritating the skin.
3. Candida Yeast Diaper Rash
This rash is easily identifiable. It looks identical to acne with little bumps and pustules that may emerge like fluid-filled blisters or open chicken pox. It usually begins at the genitals and works its way outward and may spread to the abdomen, thighs, and waist and into genital creases. It is often accompanied by oral thrush, another yeast infection. The cause is mostly dietary.
By using a good ointment and making some changes in diaper products and habits can be useful in clearing up the first two types of diaper rash. It is the candida diaper rash which requires an extra effort to eradicate.
What Causes Candida Diaper Rash?
Yeast diaper rash is the only diaper rash caused by a skin infection. It usually emanates from either the upper or lower gastrointestinal tract or a breastfeeding mother who has candida. The main cause is Candida albicans, a tiny yeast-like fungus that lives in the intestinal tract.
The risk for yeast diaper rash is enlarged when antibiotics have been taken by the baby or the mother that is breastfeeding. You can use medicines like amoxicillin which is a common antibiotic given to infants. This medicine becomes helpful in killing bacteria in the digestive system and encourage the overpopulation of candida. That’s when babies become particularly vulnerable to yeast infections.
Yeast finds its growth in dampening, warm and dark places so under a diaper is the perfect home for the bacteria. They also emerge on a food supply of sugars and yeast foods.
Treating Yeast Diaper Rash
• Clean the area to get rid of diaper rash
Keeping the area clean as possible is the first step to get rid of a candida diaper rash. At every diaper change, wash the affected area using a mild soap, like goat’s milk soap. Do not rub the area when drying or washing because the skin will be sensitive and rubbing will aggravate it further and may have the chances of rash to spread. You can use unscented, low-allergy wipes or a soft cotton cloth to wash the area. Afterwards, pat or air-dry completely.
• Change the diaper frequently
Changing the diaper can dry out the area and weed out the bacteria. You will also be removing an important source of irritation by limiting the contact of urine and feces with the baby’s sensitive skin.
• Whenever necessary, make the baby go bare bottomed.
Exposure to air and light will slow the bacterial growth. The healing process will increase if exposed to early morning or late afternoon sunlight.
• Treat the area with an antifungal ointment
Use all natural and 100% free chemical antifungal ointment. Ensure using big diapers so that they do not chafe and irritate the area. You may also require to change brands of diapers and wipes.
• Focus on the diet of your baby
Be cautious about adding sugars to your baby’s diet which consists of sweet juices and fruits. If your baby is old enough, you can include yogurt as a part of its diet. Learn more about what foods should be avoided in case you’re breastfeeding so as to cure yeast infections.
• Not to use baby powders consisting corn starch
Never use baby powders that contain corn starch. This is a food source for candida and will only make worsen the matter.
However, all candida yeast diaper infections are common, your baby won’t have to suffer from one if you follow the above guidelines.
Conclusion
Identify the causes of your baby’s candida diaper rash and try changing diapers frequently. Take care of your baby’s diet, products you’re using and use antifungal medicines, in case, your baby experiences candida diaper rash infection. Make your baby’s genitals clean every time in order to avoid the possibility for bacteria to grow and develop.